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We’re sure the last thing you want to do right now is vote. But, we promise this one’s worth it.
Every year, Technical.ly puts on awards recognizing the best of the best in the DMV, including people, products and programs. These go beyond our quarterly RealLISTs and put our readers at the center of deciding who or what should be celebrated.
We have brand new categories this year, too. The intention is to go beyond the traditional definition of “innovation” to include educators, social media creators and leadership changes contributing to this ecosystem. We crafted this list from your nominations, combing through our past coverage and trolling the internet.
You can cast your vote for the Technical.ly Awards below. The deadline for voting is Nov. 18, and the winners will be announced by Thanksgiving (so you winners can brag about it with your loved ones).
Learn more about the nominees below.
Product of the Year
The technology product, service or upgrade from your area that had the most impact this year in society at large.
- Throne Labs: The Brentwood, Maryland-based high-tech public restroom startup has set up 18 bathrooms throughout the region, including six in DC this spring. These bathrooms are free to use and ADA-compliant, with air conditioning and motion sensors to avoid touching surfaces. The startup is also working with local service providers to distribute tap-cards for people without phones, per its website.
- DC Compass: Residents can get answers about info ranging from the city’s population size to how many trees are planted through the new government chatbot released in March. It uses generative AI to answer user questions and create maps purely from DC’s open data sets.
- InPress: This news-based dating app launched in DC this fall. It aggregates news from countless outlets so users can indicate how interesting they found the piece. From there, the app will match users based on shared passions.
- Knope Tests: Northern Virginia startup KnoNap developed a portable device to detect 12 drugs often placed in alcoholic drinks to prevent drink spiking. It officially went on the market in July.
Educator of the Year
The person, program or organization that made the greatest strides in helping people or companies in your area become more knowledgeable and aware.
- Portia Richardson: The founder and executive director of the nonprofit Tumaini DC works to foster students’ social and emotional wellness through a trauma-informed curriculum and programming, including a summer entrepreneurship program. It culminates in a student pitch competition, and students then head to Miami to present their ideas with the Grant Cardone Foundation. Since the program’s start in 2021, students have raised $75,000 in seed funding.
- Rishi Jaitly: The tech executive, founder and OpenAI advisor created a fellowship to bridge the gap between the humanities and tech. The Virginia Tech program’s inaugural class graduated in April, and the second group started the fellowship in the fall.
- Erin Horne McKinney: Howard University and the PNC (HUxPNC) National Center for Entrepreneurship’s national executive director doubled its annual Black Commerce Conference in size this year. The multigenerational convening brought together experienced founders and students to dive into fundraising and boosting resources for Black entrepreneurs.
- Donna Walker James: When the major digital literacy nonprofit Byte Back shut down, the executive director of the nonprofit education provider Computer CORE stepped in to help adults access similar classes in the DMV.
Program of the Year
The activation or effort that was the most memorable, touched the most people or made the most difference in the local innovation community.
- Agora Initiative: The local organization launched in March with a focus on providing resources to women entrepreneurs. The group hosted a $10,000 venture competition in the spring and has regularly held office hours for women founders to co-work, as well as get advice from one another and informal advisors.
- Venture Labs: 2Gether-International, a DC-based startup accelerator run by and for disabled founders, hosts this virtual four-week program that includes workshops, office hours, access to investors and a demo day.
- DC Tech Meetup: The group hosts events typically once a month, each centered on a specific topic like AI or fintech and includes demos, panels and networking. It returned in 2023 after going dormant during the pandemic.
- DC Tech Studio: Based out of the DC Tech and Venture Coalition, this program launched over the summer with a cohort of early-stage founders. It aims to help startups scale while also getting founders engaged in issues at national and global scales — especially when it comes to navigating regulation.
Creator of the Year
The online creative who best represented your hometown by sharing original, informative or engaging content.
- Adedayo Fashanu: The founder of the media and subscription streaming service TANTV, which focuses on business and political news for Black and diverse consumers, also created the news aggregation platform SYNDEX AI.
- Artechouse DC: Founded in 2015, the immersive art facility uses tech like Lidar sensors and towering projector screens in new installations multiple times a year. It has expanded since its creation to New York City, Miami and Houston.
- Tony P: This local TikTok star, entrepreneur and consultant has made a name for himself through filming vlogs of his activities and work in the DMV, plus delivering words of encouragement in between.
- Noochie: The rapper’s video series “Noochie’s Live From the Front Porch Presents,” largely taking place on the porch of his family’s DC-area home, has featured performances from big names like Chance the Rapper, as well as locals like students from the Duke Ellington School of The Arts.
Power Move of the Year
The strategic move that made the most difference to the local region overall.
Money Move of the Year
The financial transaction that made the biggest splash in the local innovation community.
- HyperSpectral raises $8.5 million: The Alexandria startup, which builds tech to identify health threats like pathogens and contaminants, announced the Series A will go toward product development and hiring more employees.
- IonQ’s many government contracts: The College Park quantum company had a busy year. In September, it announced a $54.5 million contract with the United States Air Force Research Lab, and a $9 million partnership with the University of Maryland to provide quantum computing access for college students. Plus, it landed a contract with the Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence and Security to develop a quantum computing system for the Department of Defense, with the first phase valued at $5.7 million.
- Last Energy raises $40 million: The DC startup is developing micro nuclear power plants in an aim to boost clean energy use. The founder of Last Energy credits the massive amounts of energy needed from data centers to the startup’s quick growth since its founding in 2019.
- Anzu Partners and J.A. Green & Co.’s $100 million defense tech fund: The VC firm and the defense-focused lobbying organization partnered to create a new fund for companies developing technology related to national defense and security, including in cybersecurity, AI and aerospace.
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